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East’s 8th Seed to be Determined by Memphis Grizzlies?

By Christian Dudley

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Feb 10, 2015; Memphis, TN, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach Lionel Hollins (C) looks on from the sidelines against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Could the Memphis Grizzlies be the determinant of the fate for former Grizzlies’ Head Coach Lionel Hollins and his Brooklyn Nets as the postseason nears?

The NBA Playoffs begin this upcoming weekend. All 30 NBA teams either have just one game remaining on their regular season schedule or they are playing their next-to-last game tonight.

The Memphis Grizzlies are fighting for a playoff position that favors them in the first round, and while it is uncertain at this point, it is looking very likely that they will either play the Portland Trail Blazers or Los Angeles Clippers in the first round. Memphis has just one game left to play out of the 82-game schedule–tomorrow evening’s duel with the Indiana Pacers.

Oct 31, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies coach David Joerger coaches on the sidelines against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

What is significant about the Pacers?

Indiana owns the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, yet they have not clinched the position. The Pacers can clinch in a few different ways, with the obvious road being them winning their matchup against the Washington Wizards tonight followed by our very own Memphis Grizzlies tomorrow.

The team Indiana is racing to the finish line? The Brooklyn Nets–coached by a very familiar face to Memphis Grizzlies’ fans–Lionel Hollins. Indy’s 37-43 record is 0.5 games better than Brooklyn’s [Ed. Note: Prior to the tip-off of Pacers-Wizards.]

In a way that could give Grizz Nation a good chuckle, if Memphis decides to rest the majority of their key players tomorrow night versus Indiana of if they flat-out just do not win against the Pacers, the ensuing result would mean the Brooklyn Nets and Hollins would be eliminated from the playoff picture on the last day of the NBA season.

Apr 13, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Leandro Barbosa (19) fouls Memphis Grizzlies guard Russ Smith (2) on a shot with Golden State Warriors center Marreese Speights (5) during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 111-107. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Now, it does not get very crazy unless Indiana loses to the Wizards tonight. If the Pacers lose tonight, there will be increased anxiety by both Indy and Brooklyn. Additionally, the beholder of the outcome could then very well lie in the Grizzlies’ hands. The Nets will play their final game tomorrow, too–against the Orlando Magic.

It is uncertain whether Memphis will play and/or limit the minutes of Z-Bo, Big Spain, or other starters against the Indiana Pacers, but if last night’s Grizzlies-Warriors game is any indication, even Memphis’ rookies can give even the best of teams a run for their money.

Go Grizz!

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